Bottle arranging machine



1954 K. a. HOLSTEBROE ETAL 2,669,341

BOTTLE ARRANGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed NOV. 4, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO H0 THE/l? ATTOZPNIYS' K. B. HOLSTEBROE ETALBOTTLE ARRANGING MACHINE Feb. 16, 1954 Original Filed Nov. 4, 1942 I H UFeb. 16, 1954 K. B. HOLSTEBRQE ET AL BOTTLE ARRANGING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 4, 1942 THE/R ATTORNEYS 1954 K. B.HOLSTEBROE ETAL 2,669,341

BOTTLE ARRANGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Nov. 4, 1942INVENTORS THE/f? ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1954 2,669,341 BOTTLEARRANGING MACHINE Kaye B. Holstebroe, Gildersleeve, and Ludwig Wimmer,Middletown, Conn., assignors,

mesne assignments, to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation ofDelaware Original application November 4, 1942, Serial No.

now Patent No. her 26, 1948. Divided and this 2,452,376, datedOctoapplication J anuary 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,604

4 Claims. (Cl. 198-34) This invention relates to article handling orarranging apparatus for articles such as bottles,

the presence of an attendant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a row forming mechanismwhich will operate on fragile articles, such as bottles, with a minimumof breakage.

The invention also aims to provide a row forming mechanism which effectspositive separation and positive maintenance of the spacing of thearticles.

Although the row present invention compartments or cells formed bypartitions p aced at right angles to one another, such shipping casesbeing referred to. in the trade as cell-cases. In this apparatus 15.0wPatent No. 2,452,376.

In packing machines of this .kind, which are ficulty has heretofore beenexperienced in arranging the bottles of each row in suitably spacedrelation to one another is to overcome this difficulty.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawwooden trays having both longitudinal and crosspartitions forming the cells for the individual Fig. 1 is a plan view ofpacking machine embodying mechanism of the invention;

longitudinal section taken the row forming Fig. 2 is a view in on line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 withthe cans and certainparts omitted;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts in a differentposition;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the driving mechanism of the flight chain;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of Fig. 6 in adifferent position, and.

on an endless supply conveyor indicated gener ally by numeral i. Thecell trays are advanced through the machine on a second endless beltroller conveyor type, and if desired may come above. v The filled traysleaving conveyor 2 at the front end of the machine .(at theleft inFig. 1) are received by a delivery conveyor 3 which is shown as being ofthe roller gravity operated type. i The bottle conveyor I is above thetray conveyor Z and delivers the bottles to a row-forming mechanismindicated generally by numeral 4 which is in line with conveyor I. Bymeans of this mechanism the bottles are arranged in rows of six bottleseach spaced apart fromone another to correspond with the thickness ofthe tray par- 5 titions, such rows being successively formed and aportion of a bottle deposited by gravity in the respective compartmentrows of each case.

The tray conveyor comprises two endless platform chains 2 arrangedparallel to One another to support the opposite sides of the trays.Chains 2 are carried by sprockets 5 on a driving shaft 5 at the frontend of the machine and by similar in registry with the row-formingmechanism 4.

Conveyor chains 2 are maintained horizontal by means of two su portingbars H (Fig. 3) extending longitudinally of the machine, and asupporting bed or plate 12 (Fig. 6) is provided between the chains forthe trays.

The bottles are deposited in the trays by mechanism which is actuated bya number of cams, most of which are carried on a cam shaft i3 extendingcrosswise of the machine between frame members 3 and (0. This mechanismwill be referred to again later on. The machine is driven through achain it which is trained around a sprocket 23 on cam shaft (3 (Fig. 3)and also around a sprocket 2i (Fig. l) on driving shaft 5 of the trayconveyor. Power is supplied to chain. $8 from a motor and speed reducinggear box not shown.

Bottle conveyor l is supported by a driving sprocket 24 (Fig. l) and anidler sprocket (not shown). Shaft 25 on which driving sprocket 24 ismounted has at its left end another sprocket 23 which is driven througha chain 3! from a sprocket on the right end of a short shaft 23 locatedbelow shaft 25. Shaft 23 is driven through beveled gearing 21 from shaft3 of the tray conveyor. Through these connections both bottle conveyor land tray conveyor 2 are driven continuously.

The bottle row-forming mechanism 4 cornprises a series of equally spacedplates or flights 31 carried by a pair of endless chains 32 and 33arranged one above the other (Fig. 4) This device as a whole will bereferred to as the-flight chain. Chains 32 and 33 of this device arecar-.

ried by two pairs of sprockets 34 and 35 ah of the same diameter. Thepair of sprockets 35 are mounted to rotate on an upright stub shaft 36-which is fixed between two horizontal frame plates 31 and 3111 on theleft hand side of the machine (Fig.3). The pair of sprockets 34 arekeyed to a short rotatable shaft 38 ,iournaled on the right side of themachine between frame plates 31 and 31b. The purpose of having shaft 38,driven by the flight chain will appear later- Frame plate 31 extendsfrom side to side of the machine whereas plates 31a. and 31b are shortplates mounted in fixed relation to plate 31 at its opposite ends.

. As may be seen from Fig. 4 the two chains 32.

and 33 constituting the flight chain are each arranged to move betweenclosely fitting horizontal guide bars 33. These extend between the twopairs of sprockets 34 and 35. These guide bars coact with'the rollers ofthe chains to maintain the plates or flights3i in vertical position,these flights each being secured to a bracket 43 and each of thesebrackets being carried on pins 4% (Figs. 4 and 6) extending between thetwo chains 32 and 33. The base of each bracket 43 is secured to twoadjacent pins 41 so as to firmly support flights 3! at right angles tothe two chains.

' These flight plates 3| have a thickness corresponding to the thicknessof the partitions in the trays and hence hold adjacent bottles inproperly spaced relation to be received by the tray. In order toposition the bottles laterally on the side towards the chains 32 and 33each of brackets 43 carries a back plate 42 which is mounted at rightangles to the flight plates 3|. Hence along the straight portions of theflight chain between the two pairs of supporting sprockets 34 and 35, aseries of pockets is formed one between each adjacent pair of flightplates 3i. The bottles in these pockets are spaced apart by thethickness of plates 3|. By properly controlling the movement andstopping of the flight chain, these plates 3i may be positionedvertically above the tray partitions so that the pockets between theflights will be in registry with the cells or compartinents of the rowof the case beneath when this case has been fed forward to its receivingposition, as will be described below.

The. bottles in the row to be deposited in the tray are held in thepockets just referred to by means of a vertically shiftable apron 43(Figs.

1, 4 and 5) which serves to guide and position the front sides of thesix bottles in this row. Apron 43 is shifted downwardly by appropriatemechanism, and at the proper time, until its lower edge rests upon thefront wall of the tray or upon one of the cross partitions so as toguide the fronts of the bottles to prevent them from being caught on theupper edges of these members.

The six bottles forming the row are supported on a shutter plate 44,(Figs. 3, 4 and 5) the upper. surface of whichv is at the same level asthe top of frame plate 31 and which is arranged to be withdrawnlaterally to the right as shown in Fig. 4 to allow the bottles to droptoward the tray at the proper time. Shutter plate 44 is secured to asupport consisting of a cross bar 45 (Fig. 4) hav ing at its oppositeends legs 46 which are slidable on rabbetted members 41, which arefastened to the lower side of frame plate 31. A rear cross bar 43 (Fig.4) serves to tie together the rear ends of legs 43.

To actuate the shutter plate support just described, links 49 (Figs. 1,4 and 5) are pivoted to the rear ends of legs 43 and connected to arms50 which are pinned onto a cross shaft 5!. On the left hand end of thisshaft there is an actuating arm 52 carrying a roller 53 which engages acam 54 on another cross shaft 55.. This cross shaft is driven from maincam shaft 13' by means of a chain 56 and sprockets of equal size (Figs.2 and 5). Hence shaft 55 rotates continuously at the same speed as maincam shaft (3.

The flight chain (chains 32 and 33) carrying the flight plates 3i isactuated to feed in bottles from the flight. conveyor l to formsuccessive rows by mechanism which is driven from cross shaft55. Thismechanism consists of a continuously reciprocating carriage 51 which isarchains 32 and 33.

These pins'on chain 32 extend upwardly and those on chain 33 extenddownwardly; 'Theyare spaced apart on the two chains a distancecorresponding to six bottle pockets. The two ratchet members 59 eachhave hubs extending respectively above and below carriage 57 and thesehubs are pinned as shown in Fig. 4 to a common shaft 6| to cause bothratchets to move in unison so that the lower ratchet 59 can becontrolled by movement of the upper ratchet in a manner to be describedlater on for the purpose of interrupting the advance of the flight chainunder certain conditions.

Reciprocating carriage 5'! is moved back and forth by means of anactuating arm 62 pivoted at its rear end to a short link 53 which inturn is pivoted to the frame of the machine so as to allow carriage 5!to move in a straight line on its supporting bar 58. Actuating arm 92 isdriven by means of a connecting rod 64 operated by a crank 99 (Fig. 1)which rotates in a horizontal plane being fixed upon the upper end of ashort vertical shaft 61 which rotates in a bracket secured to the leftside of the machine. Shaft 61 is driven through-beveled gearing 53 fromcontinuously rotating cross shaft 55.

The bottles arrive at the packing machine on supply conveyor I and areto be spaced apart to correspond with the thickness of the cellcasepartitions, and arranged in rows. mechanism of the present machinesimu1taneously spaces the bottles apart and advances them in spacedrelation and in single row formation from conveyor i to a dischargeposition immediately above the cell-case. ing the bottles from conveyorI to enter each of the spaces between adjacent pairs of flight plates3i, a star wheel 59 is provided (Fig. 1). This star wheel preferablycomprises upper and lower sections, the uppersection being shown in Fig.1 and the lower section being in registry with the upper. Their hubs arepinned to a vertical shaft l9 which is supported for rotation at theouter end of a bracket ll. Bracket 'II is secured to one of two uprightposts I2 one on each side of the machine. Shaft Ill is operativelyconnected with shaft 38 of sprockets 34 at the right hand end of theflight chain.

For this purpose a pair of spur gears 73 are used in. order to obtainthe correct direction of rotation of the star wheel, one of these gearsbeing fixed to the upper end of shaft 38 and the other rotating on ashort stationary shaft 14 which extends upwardly from frame plate 37a.Alsorotating on shaft 14 connected thereto there through a chain'lfidrives end ,of shaft I9.

is a sprocket '15 which a sprocket on the upper flight plates 3| asshown in Fig. i. The bottles are continuously fed forward by thecontinuously driven conveyor chain I, the end of which is to the left ofthe star wheel 65 as shown in Fig. 1. Hence the bottles are continuouslyurged into the respective pockets of star wheel E9 and as the teeth ofthe star wheel rotate they force themselves between adjacent bottles andseparate them from one another, as shown in Fig. l, by a distance whichis at least equal to the thickness of flight plates SI. ,The edges of.these plates present themselves successively opposite theends The justabove gear 13 and To assist in causas upper latch 59. In Fig. 7 pin 8|ditions, but only the of the star wheel teeth and maintain theseparation of adjacent bottles which has been effected by the starwheel.

Conveyor belt I continues to feed the bottles forward as shown in Fig. 1until the flight plates 3! have rounded sprockets 34 and come intoparallel relationship with one another. From this point on the bottlesare advanced by the flight chain pockets formed by plates 3| and theother parts previously described. The bottles are guided at their frontsides by means of a stationary plate 71 (Fig. 1) which is in alignmentwith apron 43 until they reach the apron. The bottles are supported on ascuff plate 18 (Fig. 3) after they pass from conveyor chain I until theyreach the shutter plate 44.

In order to control the advance of the flight chain by reciprocatingratchet carriage 51, the solenoid mechanism and connected parts shown inFig. 3, 4 and 6-8 is provided. It will be remembered that both the lowerand upper ratchets 59 are pinned to their pivot shaft 6| so that themovement of the lower ratchet can be controlled by that of the upper.Upper ratchet 59 is provided with a compression spring I9 which biasesthe two ratchets to cause their hooks to engage pins 69 on flight chains32 and 33. On the back stroke of carrier 51, therefore, the hooks ofratchets 59 will snap over pins 50 under the biasing action of spring 79unless this engagement is prevented.

To retract ratchets 59 to ment with pins 69 when it is desired to allowflight chains 32 and 33 to remain stationary, the head of the upperratchet 59 is provided with a cam surface 80. Cam 89 is engaged by avertically shiftable pin 8| (Fig. 4) when this pin is shifted to itslower position by the energization of solenoid coil 82. projectsdownwardly from the left hand end of a lever 83 which is pivoted at 84and connected to the solenoid plunger through the link 85. When solenoid82 is de-energized pin BI is in shown in Fig. 4 and is out of preventtheir engagehas been shifted downwardly by the energizing of coil 82into the path of ratchet 59, and cam surface 89 of this member hasengaged pin 8| which has resulted in swinging both members 59 away fromthe flight chains on the back stroke of carriage 51. It is clear fromFig. '7 that on the next forward stroke, cam 80 will hold the hooks ofthe ratchets from picking up the chain pins 69. So long as solenoid 82is energized this action will occur at the end of each back stroke ofcarriage 51' and consequently the flight chains 32 and 33 will'remainstationary.

One of the conditions under which it is desired to leave flight chains32 and 33 stationary is upon the failure of the supply of bottles onconveyor I; another is upon the failure of the supply of empty cases onconveyor 2. Devices are provided for energizing solenoid 82 under eitherof these conlneohanism operative in response to failure of the bottlesupply is disclosed herein. Reference to applicants prior applicationabove mentioned may be had for a description of the case operatedmechanism.

Referring to the circuit diagram (Fig. 8) switch this controlled by thebottles and so long as the line of bottles on conveyor I is maintainedthe contacts of switch 86 are held open, but should the bottle supplyline fail, these contacts will be closed, thereby closing a circuitthrough solenoid 82 from supply conductors 86 and preventing the advanceof flight chains 32 and 33.

The contacts of bottle-actuated switch 86 are separated by means of anactuating rod 9% which is biased toward the row of bottles by a helicalspring Q2. Rod 9! is provided with a shoe 93 (Fig. 1) which engages asingle bottle which is shifted laterally of the line of bottles onconveyor l by means of a cam guide block 94. Cam block 94 serves toshift the bottle opposite it out of the line and this bottle is thensqueezed further out by the pressure of the bottles immediately in frontand behind it.

The advance of the trays or cases from the rear of the machine towardthe front, that is to say, from right to left in Figs. 4 and 5, forexample, in a step-by-step movement is controlled by means of mechanismshown in these figures and in Figs. 2 and 3. This mechanism causes thecases to be advanced one row at a time and has alternately shiftablefingers "iii and NH. These two sets of fingers are so interconnectedthat when one set is shifted upwardly the other is simultaneouslyshifted downwardly after the manner of an escapement mechanism. The setof fingers I comprises a pair of rigid fingers for each bottlecompartment of the row to be packed (Fig. 2). Fingers Hill aremaintained always vertical by means of a parallel motion mechanism. Forthis purpose these fingers are mounted upon a vertically movable carrierI02. Carrier N32 has at each end vertical legs which are pivoted to twosets of equal length supporting arms I03 and IM. The lower arms HM arepivoted loosely on rotating main cam shaft [3. Arms Hi3 above are pinnedto an actuating rock shaft I which is parallel to shaft 13 and pivotedin the frame of the machine vertically above it.

Finger ii of the escapement mechanism is pivoted at is actuated by anextension I01 at the rear of pivot HIE which is connected through linkI08 to a short arm Hi9 on the forward side of rock shaft '15. By thismechanism when shaft I 05 is rocked in one direction, fingers I01] movedownwardly and finger 1M moves upwardly, and vice versa,

7 when shaft N35 is rocked in the opposite direction.

Rock shaft W5 is actuated by a cam I ill at the left hand end of maincam shaft l3 (Fig. 2) but is permitted to move only when an arm Hi isreleased by a latch mechanism. This mechanism is not described in thisspecification but is set forth in detail in the prior application abovementioned. By means of this mechanism the feeding forward of the tray ispermitted only if the flight chain has brought a row of bottles intoposition ready to be deposited in the tray. Otherwise the tray might befed forward out of the machine with one or more rows empty.

Because of the latching of rock shaft Hi5 against movement, as describedabove, the arm H4 (which has a roller H 5 engaged by escapementactuating cam H6) is mounted loosely on rock shaft 105 and its motion istransmitted thereto by a yieldable connection shown in Fig. 2 andindicated generally by numeral l Id.

The sequence of operations in feeding a tray into position to receive arow of bottles and causing the row to be deposited in the tray cells canbe understood from of the continuously moving tray conveyor chains 2urges the trays to the left and the foremost tray is stopped bytheengagement of fingers Hill with the front thereof (Fig. 2). A row ofbottles is imposition between flight plates 3i of the'fiight we to afixed part of the machine and Figs. 4 and 5. The drag chain andsupported on, shutter plate 44. The lobe of cam H0 is about to moveroller H5 cut wardly, and it will be understood. that the latchmechanism referred to has been actuated to release arm so that theoutward movement of roller H5 is about to cause the rocking of shaftI05.

In Fig. 4 rock shaft Hi5 has been rocked by the movement of the lobe ofcam H0 beneath roller H5 to lift fingers Hi0 and lower finger Hi! and.the conveyor has carried the case forward until the front of the firstpartition has engaged the rear of finger lei, thus of the case.

In Fig. 5 cam l8 and shutter platecam 54 have rotated a slight distancefarther, the lobe of cam HO just passing from beneath roller H5. Thishas caused the position of the escapement fingers Hi0 and Hi! to berestored to their former position, resulting in the advance of the caseto bottle-receiving position with its front row of cellsv accuratelypositioned beneath the row-of bottles on shutter plate 44, being held byfingers Hi0.

In Fig. 5 shutter plate cam 54, through the operating mechanismpreviously described, has withdrawn shutter plate 44 to a point where itis just about ready to'release the row of bottles, and in. anotherinstant such release will have taken place and the bottles will havedescended into the tray.

Although our invention has been described as embodied in a machine forpacking bottles it will be understood that, as mentioned at thebeginning, it can also be used for packing cans or other similararticles. Accordingly, the term bottle as used in the appended claims isintended to include other articles such as those mentioned.

In our improved bottle packing apparatus we have provided a machinewhich is quiet, rapid and automatic in operation. It will be understood,however, that changes may be made in the arrangement and constructionofthe apparatus as herein described as well as in the details of suchapparatus without departing from our invention, the scope of which isindicated in the appended claims.

' We claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, bottle row'forming mechanismcomprising an endless chain having flights thereon spaced apart by thediameter of the bottles, sprockets for supporting a portion of saidchain in a straight line to form a row containing a predetermined numberof bottles, a bottle feed line conveyor arranged to deliver bottlesbetween the successive flights of said chain, a reciprocating carriagedisposed adjacent a straight portion of said chain, means forreciprocating said carriage with a stroke whose length corresponds tothe number of bottles in the row to be formed, a ratchet member pivotedon the carriage, driving lugs on said chain, said ratchet member beingbiased to engage one of said lugs as the carriage approaches the end ofits back stroke to advance the chain on the next forward stroke of thecarriage, and means for controlling the actuation of said chain by saidcarriage comprising mechanism for retracting said ratchet and holding itout of engagement with said lug during commencement of said forwardstroke.

2. In. apparatus of the class described, bottle row forming mechanismcomprisingan endless chain having flights thereon having vertical edgesarresting the movement and spaced apart by the diameter of the bottles,sprockets for supporting a portion of said chain bottle feed line havingbottles 1n close formation and extending in approximately the same planeas said chain, a star wheel dlsposed on the oppodriving bottles.

vertical edges of said flights as they move around to space the bottlesapart and place them between said flights, a reciprocat- 1' KAYE B.LUDWIG HOLSTEBROE. NIMMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS

